One home improvement many people could use is having a fireplace that burns natural wood. Something about fire crackling in the background and the smell of pinewood seems to promote cozy and romantic feelings. However, many homeowners discover that simply having a fireplace isn’t suitable for the environment and, in many instances, even worse for the health.
If you want logs burning inside your home without the environmental and health problems from typical fireplaces, you should consider placing a wood stove fireplace. It’s a prefabricated appliance that provides an effective way to warm your home’s interior.
Centuries ago, this type of heating equipment was big, clunky, and not that attractive. Well, maybe during that time, people were concerned more about efficiency than aesthetics. However, these days, you can find small wood stoves that can fit in apartments and medium-sized homes.
Pros Of Wood Stove Fireplace
Before you decide, you may want to know about the pros of a wood stove fireplace:
1. Energy Efficient
With rising inflation, many homeowners want to save on cost, especially when it comes to their heating system. Aside from fixing up windows and doors to prevent leaks and drafts, many look for other sources that don’t use electricity, oil, or gas to save on heating costs. One efficient heating source is a wood stove fireplace because it rapidly transfers warmth into the room.
Today’s wood stoves are designed with efficiency in mind, so you can be assured that such an appliance can generate more heat than conventional fireplaces. Moreover, the fire in wood-burning stoves stays on longer, so you can enjoy the warmth inside your home for an extended period and at no additional cost.
2. Beautiful Upgrade
If you love the idea of a conventional fireplace but don’t want the ash and smoke, you’ll want to upgrade your fireplace with a wood-burning stove, which comes equipped with proper ventilation. As mentioned earlier, heating stoves of the bygone years are bulky and old-fashioned. These days, you can find a wood stove with an appropriate size that’ll fit the space dedicated to your fireplace.
You won’t have a problem finding the right one that’ll match the design theme of your dwelling because this appliance comes in a variety of styles and materials. You may choose to install a big one in your living room or choose to put several units in other parts of your house. They’ll surely be beautiful, functional upgrades during wintry nights and a showpiece that could be a conversation starter with your friends. Compared to a traditional fireplace, a wood stove fireplace has well-designed viewing doors that let you enjoy the sight of crackling flame during chilly nights.
3. Environmentally Friendly
With the many problems hounding the environment today, it’s ideal for everyone to look for solutions that’d help bring down fuel, electricity, and energy consumption as much as possible. It’s also the present generation’s responsibility to the next one to choose environmentally friendly options.
So, when it comes to a fireplace, a wood-burning stove is a good choice because it doesn’t require fuel nor electricity to maintain heat. It’s designed to burn firewood slower than a traditional fireplace, so heat is retained for much longer. Lastly, most modern wood stoves follow strict environmental regulations, so they’re made to meet emission standards that allow their use indoors and outdoors.
Cons Of Wood Stove Fireplace
A wood stove fireplace has disadvantages as well. Here are some things you should be aware of:
1. Upfront Cost
Despite the beauty and functionality of wood-burning stoves, some people choose to delay buying this appliance because of its high upfront cost. The unit itself may be priced a bit higher compared to other options. However, you can find smaller ones that are cheaper. Since this heating solution comes in various designs, you’ll indeed find one to fit your budget range. Also, since wood-burning stove fireplaces are prefabricated, the cost of installation may be high. But remember, proper installation is essential to maintain low emission and high efficiency during use.
Despite the high initial investment, wood-burning stoves are cost-effective in the long run because you’ll save on your utility cost. Also, this stove doesn’t use electricity to start or work. Thus, you can enjoy light and warmth even during blackouts. Moreover, this type of fireplace lasts for a minimum of 25 years, depending on how you use and maintain it, so it’s good value for your money.
2. Takes Time Getting Used To
Most people have gotten used to plug-and-play or one push of a button to have their equipment up and running. This instant-on doesn’t apply to wood-burning stoves. You’ll need to take your time reading the instructions on using the appliance properly to enjoy its energy efficiency. This stove may somehow be old school because you must study basic principles on wood-burning. You must learn what type of firewood to use, how much fuel to put in the stove to start the fire, how to prevent overfiring, and how to use the different vents to ensure maximum heating for extended periods.
Using a wood stove fireplace may take some getting used to, but once you’ve learned the basics and understood how the design works, using the woodstove will be instinctive. Besides, the basics of using firewood are practical knowledge you can use in your camping trips, setting up a bonfire, and even during emergencies.
3. Requires Regular Upkeep
Another reason why some homeowners think twice about owning a wood-burning stove is maintenance. Compared to a pellet stove, this appliance may require additional upkeep to enjoy consistent heating efficiency. It’d be best to perform regular maintenance for wood stove fireplaces to enjoy problem-free heating during the winter season. The upkeep required may include cleaning the vents, removing soot buildup in the stove, and ensuring all components and parts are in good working condition. If you maintain your wood stove well, it’ll work well for many years.
The Bottom Line
When picking what type of fireplace to install in your home, you shouldn’t only look at the aesthetics or design. It’s equally essential to consider heating efficiency, low emissions, and long-term benefits, too. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you look for a wood stove fireplace for your home.